[The formation and viability of hybrid cells in a population after irradiation at lethal doses]

With the use of two genetically labeled lines of Djungarian hamster cells and the method of hybrid selection on a HAT-selective medium it was found that in the irradiated mixed culture of the above cell lines, cells were formed that survived in the conditions of total destruction of irradiated parent cells. The chromosome analysis showed that about 45% of the survived cells were hybrids resulting from the radiation-induced fusion of two initial cell lines. These hybrid cells were capable of reproduction. A subline of hybrid cells was isolated. It is assumed that the radiation-induced process of cell fusion and the formation of viable somatic hybrids might be essential for the survival of cell population in the course of tumor radiotherapy.